Extensible paint roller



Jan. 18, 1966 D. A. GOETZ EXTENSIBLE PAINT ROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledMay l, 1964 Jan. 18, 1966 D. A. GoETz EXTENSIBLE PAINT ROLLER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1964 INVENTOR. DAN/EL ,4. G0572 BY WLM, EWI,@M WM ATTRNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,229,319 EXTENSIBLE PAlNT RGLLER Daniel A.Goetz, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to Stylette Plastics, Inc., Pittsburgh,Pa., a corporation of Penn- Sylvania Filed May 1, 1964, Ser. No. 364,13321 Claims. (Cl. 1S-230.1l)

This invention relates to a paint roller which receives and supports aconventional sleeve or cylinder having nap on its exterior surface forapplication of paint and the like onto a surface. More particularly, itrelates to a paint roller which extensible from a first length, such as7 to a second length, for example 9", and then, of course, is cornvertible back to the 7" length. Accordingly, the roller of thisinvention has versatility, i.e., two rollers in one for painting wideand narrow surface areas, and thereby can replace one roller.

Heretofore, some users of paint rollers purchased two separate rollers,one for painting surface areas relatively narrow in width, and a secondroller for covering wider surface areas. Now, however, my inventionmakes it possible to convert a single roller from a short length lengthto a long length, or from a long length to a short one. Specifically, myroller receives and rotatably supports a conventional nap-covered sleevewhich applies paint onto a surface, and comprises a rod adapted formounting upon an axle and for rotation about its longitudinal axis onthis axle. The rod carries an outer substantially tubular shell memberhaving a portion which extends longitudinally over a portion of the rod.This outer shell member extends in substantially the same direction asthe rod and includes at least two spaced apart fingers whose outer endsare free and form an open end of the shell member. The ngers extendinwardly from their outer ends to form two slots therebetween and toconnection with that portion of the outer shell member which includesthe other end thereof. A first stop member is positioned inwardly fromthe outer ends of the fingers and extends between the rod and an innerwall of the outer shell member. An inner tubular member with a portiontelescoped inside a part of the outer tubular member andcircumferentially around the rod extends substantially longitudinally ofthis rod and in engagement with a part thereof. This inner tubularmember is rotatable with the rod and has a slot which is open at one endof the inner tubular member and which runs inwardly from the one end toa slot terminus. The portion of the inner tubular member which includesthe slot extends into the open end of the outer tubular member and isslidably disposed upon the rod from a first position whereat the rststop member engages the slot terminus to form a roller of a firstlength, to a second posititon whereat a portion of the inner tubularmember has been moved longitudinally out through the open end of theouter tubular member to bring a part of the inner member into engagementwith a second stop member carried by either the axle or the rod, andwhereat this inner member nas been turned about its longitudinal axis anamount to move the inner member slot out of alignment with the firststop member to form a roller of a second length greater than the tirstlength.

This roller has a means such as a ring slidably disposed upon the innermember along that portion which extends into the open end of the outermember. This ring extends substantially radially from the inner memberinto engagement with the interior surface of the outer member fingersfor urging them radially apart. The inner tubular member also has meanssuch as longitudinally extending ribs which project radially inwardlyalong a part of the inside surface thereof to provide a frictionengagement with the inner tubular member and the rod 3,229,319 PatentedJan. 18, 1966 ice to resist movement of the inner tubular member uponthe rod.

At one end of the rod or axle is a spring which is disposed tooperatively exert a force upon an end of the inner member to resistrotation thereof about the rod when it is in the second position. Theinner tubular member has on that end at which its slot is open, at leasttwo spaced apart lips which form a notch for receiving the first stopmember when the inner tubular member is in the second position.

In addition to the slot, the inner member may have a means such as ashoulder, rib, lug, projection, etc., thereon for engagement with afirst stop member to form the first length of the roller and therebyeliminate the slot of the inner member.

A further embodiment of my roller has the tirst length formed byengagement of the` one end of the inner member with the rst stop memberwhich can be an end wall of the outer shell.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a preferred embodiment of myinvention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view, partially in section, of my roller arranged fora short length;

FIGURE 2 is a section view along the line II-II of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section View along the line III-III of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a section view along the line IV-IV of FGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a section view along the line V-V of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 6 is a View similar to FIGURE l, but showing the roller extendedfrom the short lengthv of FIGURE l to a long length;

FIGURE 7 is a section View along with the line VII'- VII of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a section view along the line VIIl--VIII of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 9A is a section view along the line IX-IX of FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawings, my roller l is rotatably mounted upon aconventional axle 2 which is joined to a conventional handle 3. Thisroller comprises a rod 4 through which the axle 2 extends and which isrotatably disposed thereupon. The axle has lugs 5 and a washer 6 locatedadjacent a righbangle bend in the handle 3 to engage one end of the rod,and a threaded nut 7 at the free end S of the axle 2 to engage the otherend of the rod 4i. A combination of the lugs and washer and of the nutposition and confine the rod 4 upon the axle 2.

The rod 4 carries an outer tubular shell 9 which is coaxial androtatable therewith and which extends longitudinally over a part of thelength of the rod. This outer shell is joined to the rod by an'end walll@ located at that end of the rod which engages the washer 6 and by aweblike stop ll which extends on diametrically opposite sides of the rodinto engagement with the interior of the shell 9. This web stop Il runslongitudinally from the rear wall 10 towards the other end of the rodand thereby not only functions as a stop, but also supports the outershell 9 along a part of its length.

The outer shell 9 has two spaced apart fingers 12 and 13 whose outerends are free and thereby form an open end 14 of the outer shell. Thesefingers extend longitudinally of the rod and incline radially outwardlya small amount as shown in FIGURE 6 to assist retention of a conventinalnap-covered sleeve or cylinder on the roller. The two fingers extendinwardly from their outer ends to connection with that portion l5 oi theouter shell which includes the end wall 10 and form two slots 16 and l'/therebetween. The two slots are in alignment with one another anddisposed substantially at right angles to the web stop 11, which extendsa short distance beyond the terminus of the slots towards the outer endsof the fingers 12 and 13.

Disposed upon the rod 4 and slidable thereupon is an inner tubularmember 18 which is coaxial and rotatable with this rod. This innermember extends longitudinally of and around the rod and a portionthereof projects in through the open end 14 of the outer shell 9. Asmall diameter portion 19 is joined to an intermediate portion 20 which,in turn, is joined to a large diameter portion 21 to form the innertubular member. As shown in FIGURE 1, the small diameter portion 19 andmost of the intermediate portion 20 extend through the open end 14 ofthe outer shell when the roller is arranged for the short length withthe large diameter portion 21 remaining outside the outer shell. For thelong length (FIGURE 6), most of the small diameter portion 19 is withinthe outer shell and the intermediate and large diameter portions areoutside the open end. The juncture of the small diameter andintermediate portions forms a shoulder 22 as does the connection of theintermediate and large diameter portions to form a shoulder 22a.

The diameter of this large portion 21 is substantially that of the outershell 9 and is such that it permits the conventional nap-coveredcylinder to be slid on and off the roller and yet have such a fitthereupon that the cylinder rotates with the roller and notindependently thereof. Generally, the peripheral dimension of the outershell 9 and large diameter portion 21 is that which accommodates a paintroller whose inside diameter ranges between 1.40 and 1.75. The radiallyoutwardly inclining fingers 12 and 13 of the outer shell, together witha movable ring 23 disposed upon the small diameter portion 19, cooperateto hold the nap-covered cylinder upon the roller. This ring extends fromthe small diameter portion 19 to engagement with the inside of thefingers and is slidable along the the small diameter portion 19 to urgeand/or maintain the fingers radially apart and thereby maintain thecylinder for rotation with the roller. By moving the ring longitudinallyupon the small diameter portion 19, the fingers 12 and 13 can beadjustably spread radially apart to accommodate different sizednap-covered cylinders.

This small diameter portion 19 has that end 28 opposite the shoulder 22open and formed by two fingers 24 and 25 spaced apart to define slots 26and 27 which are open at the end 28. The two fingers 26 and 27 extendinwardly from the 'end 28 to a connection with a cylinder part 29 andthere form a slot terminus 3G.

The inner .member 18 is both slidable upon and rotatable about the rod 4and also is rotatable with this rod. Convertibility of the roller from afirst length to a second length includes sliding the inner member 18longitudinally upon the rod 4, followed by rotating the inner memberabout the rod. For example,` to convert the roller from the short lengthof FIGURE `1 to the long length of FIGURE 6, the inner member 18 ismoved to the right, viewing FIGURE 1, longitudinally of the rod 4 untilthe shoulder 22 engages a stop washer 31 disposed upon the axle 2,located between the en-d 32 of the rod 4 and the nut 7 and abutting boththe end 32 and the nut 7 and functioning as a second stop to locate theinner member 18 for the long length. Then, the inner member is turnedabout 90 around the rod 4 to bring the slots 26 and 27 out of alignmentwith the web stop 11 and to position two diametrically'opposed notches33 and 34 at the open end 28 and formed by two pairs of spaced apartlips 35 and 36 into position opposite the web stop whichl is received inthe two notches. Thus, the small diameter-portion of the inner memberhas a length substantially equal to that between web stop 11 andthe stopwasher 31.

Located upon a seat 37` inthe bore of the stop washer 31, and disposedaround the axle, is a coil spring 38 which extends into engagement withthe nut 7. This spring is under compression through engagement with thenut 7 and it permits the inner member 1 to be moved to the position ofFIGURE 6 Where the web stop 11 is received in the two notches 33 and 34.In the position of FIGURE 6, the spring exerts a force to urge andmaintain the inner member into and at the long length position with theweb stop 11 in the notches 33 and 34, and also exerts pressure upon thestop washer and, in turn, upon the inner member 18 to resist rotation ofthe inner member about the rod 4.

To convert the roller from its long length (FIGURE 6) to the short one(FIGURE 1), the inner member 18 is pulled to the right, viewing FIGURE6, against the force of the spring 38 to disengage the pairsof lips 35and 36 and the notches 33 and 34 from the web stop 11 and then isrotated about the rod 4 to align the slots 26 and 27 with the web stop11. Next, the inner member is pushed longitudinally along the rod and inthrough the open end 14 of' the outer shell 9 with the web stop in theslots 26 and 27 until the slot termini 30 engage the web stop 11 to formthe short length.

Spaced apart around the interior surface of the small diameter portionof the inner member are longitudinally extending ribs 39 which engagethe periphery of the rod 4 and resist both longitudinal movement of theinner member upon the rod and rotational movement thereof about the rod4. Thus, these ribs assist to maintain the inner member in the positionof FIGURE 1.

An end cap 4f) has a snap-fit connection with the outer end of the largediameter portion 21 of the inner member 18 to cover the nut and the stopwasher and thereby protect same from paint.

My roller has important advantages which include easy Convertibilitybetween a short length and a long length and thereby avoidance of needfor a second roller. Additionally, the roller has ability to firmly holdthe conventional nap-covered sleeves of both long and short lengthsthrough cooperation of the outwardly inclining fingers 12 and 13 and thering 23.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention,it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A roller for receiving and rotatably supporting a sleeve whichapplies paint and the like onto a surface, said roller comprising a rodadapted for mounting upon an axle `and for rotation about itslongitudinal axis upon said axle, said rod carrying an outersubstantially tubular shell member having a portion which extendslongitudinally over a portion of said rod, said outer shell extending insubstantially the same direction as said rod and including at least twospaced apart fingers whose outer ends are free and form an open end ofsaid shell member, said fingers extending inwardly from their outer endsto form two slots therebetween and to connection with that portion ofsaid outer shell member which includes the other end thereof, a firststop member positioned inwardly from the outer ends of said fingers andextending between said rod and an inner wall of said outer shell member,an inner substantially tubular member with a portion telescoped inside apart of said outer tubular member and around said rod, a second stopmember spaced apart from said first stop member and disposed closer tosaid openend of said outer shell member than said first stop member,said inner tubular member extending substantially longitudinally of andin engagement with a part of said rod, being rotatable therewith, andhaving a slot which is open at one end of said inner tubular member andwhich runs inwardly from said one end to a slot terminus, said portionof said inner tubular member including said slot thereof extending intosaid open end of said outer tubular member and being slidably disposedupon said rod from a first position whereat said first stop memberengages said slot terminus of said inner tubular member slot to form aroller of a first length, to a second position whereat a portion of saidinner member has been moved longitudinally out through said open end ofsaid outer tubular member to bring a part of said inner member intoengagement with said second stop member whereat said inner member hasbeen turned about its longitudinal axis an amount to move said innermember slot out of alignment with said first stop member to form aroller of a second length greater than said first length.

2. The roller of claim 1 characterized by means slidably disposed uponsaid inner member along that portion which extends into said open end ofsaid outer tubular member, said slidable meansV extending substantiallyradially from said inner member into engagement with the interiorsurface of said outer member fingers for urging said outer memberfingers radially apart.

3. The roller of claim 1 characterized by said inner tubular memberhaving means which extend into and provide a friction engagement withsaid rod for resisting movement of said inner tubular member upon saidrod.

4. The roller of claim 3 characterized by said friction engagement meansbeing longitudinally extending ribs which project radially inwardlyalong a part of the inside surface of said inner tubular member.

5. The roller of claim 1 characterized by said first stop member beingso located along said rod that same is engaged by said one end of saidinner tubular member when at said second position.

6. The roller of claim 1 characterized by spring means disposed tooperatively'exert a force upon an end of said inner tubular member toresist rotation thereof about said rod when in said second position.

7. The roller of claim 1 characterized by said inner tubular memberhaving on said one end at which said slot is open at least two spacedapart lips which form a notch for receiving said first stop member whensaid inner tubular member is in said second position, said notch beingindependent of said slot.

8. The roller of claim 1 characterized by means slidably disposed uponsaid inner member along that portion which extends into said open end ofsaid outer tubular member, said slidable means extending substantiallyradially from said inner member into engagement with the interiorsurface of said outer member ngers for urging said outer member fingersradially apart, and by said inner tubular member having means whichextend into and provide a friction engagement with said rod forresisting movement of said inner tubular member upon said rod.

9. The roller of claim 1 characterized by said inner tubular memberhaving means which extend into and provide a friction engagement withsaid rod for resisting movement of said inner tubular member upon saidrod, and by said first stop member being so located along said rod thatsame is engaged by said one end of said inner tubular member when atsaid second position.

1G. The roller of claim 1 characterized by spring means disposed tooperatively exert a force upon an end of said inner tubular member toresist rotation thereof about said rod when in said second position, andby said inner tubular member having on said one end at which said slotis open at least two spaced apart lips which form a notch for receivingsaid first stop member when said inner tubular member is in said secondposition, said notch being independent of said slot.

11. The roller of claim 1 characterized by said inner tubular memberhaving means Which extend into and provide a friction engagement withsaid rod for resisting movement of said inner tubular member upon saidrod, by said first stop member being so located 4along said rod thatsame is engaged by said one end of said inner tubular member when atsaid second position, by spring means disposed to operatively exert aforce upon an end of said inner tubular member to resist rotationthereof -about said rod when in said second position, and by said innertubular member having on said one end at which said slot is open atleast two spaced apart lips which form a notch for receiving said firststop member when said inner tubular member is in said second position,said notch being independent of said slot.

12. The roller of claim 1 characterized by means slidably disposed uponsaid inner member along that portion which extends into said open end ofsaid outer tubular member, said slidable means extending substantiallyradially from said inner member into engagement With the interiorsurface of said outer member fingers for urging said outer memberfingers radially apart, by said inner tubular member having means whichextend into and provide a friction engagement with said rod forresisting movement of said inner tubular member upon said rod, by saidfirst stop member being so located along said rod that same is engagedby said one end of said inner tubular member when at said secondposition, by spring means disposed to operatively exert a force upon anend of said inner tubular member to resist rotation thereof about saidrod when in s-aid second position, and by said inner tubular memberhaving on said one end at which said slot is open at least two spacedapart lips which form a notch for receiving said rst stop member whensaid inner tubular member is in said second position, s-aid notch beingindependent of said slot.

13. A roller for receiving and rotatably supporting a sleeve whichapplies paint and the like onto a surface, said roller comprising a rodadapted for mounting upon an laxle and for rotation about itslongitudinal axis upon said axle, said rod carrying an outersubstantially tubular shell member having a portion which extendslongitudinally over a portion of said rod, said outer shell extending insubstantially the same direction as said rod and including at least twospaced apart fingers whose outer ends are free and form an open end ofsaid shell member, said fingers extending inwardly from their outer endsto form two slots therebetween and to connection with that portion ofsaid outer shell member which includes the other end thereof, a firststop member positioned inwardly from the outer ends of said fingers andextending between said rod and an inner wall of said outer shell member,an inner substantially tubular member with a portion telescoped inside apart of said outer tubular member and around said rod, said innertubular member extending substantially longitudinally of and inengagement with a part of said rod, being rotatable therewith, andhaving means thereon for engagement with said first stop member, asecond stop member spaced apart from said first stop member and disposedcloser to said open end of said outer shell member than said first stopmember, said portion of said inner tubular member including said meansextending into said open end of said outer tubular member and beingslidably disposed upon said rod from a first position whereat said firststop member engages said means of said inner tubular member to form aroller of a first length, to a second position Whereat `a portion ofsaid inner member has been moved longitudinally out through said openend of said outer tubular member to bring a part of said inner memberinto engagement with said second stop member to form a roller of asecond length greater than said rst length.

14. The roller of claim 13 characterized by said inner tubular memberhaving means which extend into and provide a friction engagement withsaid rod for resisting movement of said inner tubular member upon saidrod.

15. The roller of claim 14 characterized by said friction engagementmeans being longitudinally extending ribs which project radiallyinwardly along a part of the inside surface of said inner tubularmember.

16. Theroller of claim 13 characterized by spring means disposed tooperatively exert a force upon an end of said inner tubular member toresist rotation thereof about said rod when in said second position.

17. The roller of claim 13 characterized by said inner tubular memberhaving means which extend into and provide a friction engagement withsaid rod for resisting movement of said inner tubular member upon saidrod,

and by spring means to operatively exert a force upon an end of saidinner tubular member to resist rotation thereof about said rod when insaid second position.

18. A roller for receiving and rotatably supporting a sleeve whichapplies paint and the like onto a surface, said roller comprising a rodyadapted for mounting upon an axle and for rotation about itslongitudinal axis upon said axle, said rod carrying an outersubstantially tubular shell member having a portion which extendslongitudinally over a portion of said rod, said outer shell extending insubstantially the same direction as said rod and including at least twospaced apart lingers whose outer ends are free and form an open end ofsaid shell member, said ngers extending inwardly from their outer endsto form two slots therebetween and to connection with that portion ofsaid outer shell member which includes the other end thereof, a rst stopmember positioned inwardly from the outer ends of said ngers andextending between said rod and an inner wall of said outer shell member,an inner substantially tubular member with a portion including one endof said inner member telescoped inside a part of said outer tubularmember and around said rod, a second stop member spaced apart from saidrst stop member and disposed closer to said open end of said outer shellmember than rst said stop member, said inner tubular member extendingsubstantially longitudinally of and in engagement with a part of saidrod and being rotatable therewith, said portion of said inner memberincluding said one end thereof extending into said open end of saidouter tubular member and being slidably disposed upon said rod from aiirst position whereat said stop member engages said one end of -saidinner member to form a roller of a first length, to a second positionwhereat a portion of said inner member has been moved longitudinally outthrough said open end of said outer tubular member to bring a part ofsaid inner member into engagement with said second stop member to form aroller of a second length greater than said first length. l

19. The'roller of claim 18 characterized by said inner tubular memberhaving means which extend into and vprovide a friction engagement withsaid rod for resisting 'movement of said inner tubular member upon saidrod.

20. The roller of claim 18 characterized by spring means disposed tooperatively exert a force upon an end of said inner tubular member toresist rotation thereof about said rod when in said second position.

21. The roller of claim 18 characterized by said inner tubular memberhaving means which extend into and provide a friction engagement withsaid rod for resisting movement of said inner tubular member upon saidrod, and by spring means disposed to operatively exert a force upon anend of said inner tubular member to resist rotation thereof about saidrod when in said second position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,970,366 2/1961Gill 15-230.11 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,133,801 11/1956 France.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

13. A ROLLER FOR RECEIVING AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTING A SLEEVE WHICHAPPLIES PAINT AND THE LIKE ONTO A SURFACE SAID ROLLER COMPRISING A RODADAPTED FOR MOUNTING UPON AN AXLE AND FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITSLONGITUDINAL AXIS UPON SAID AXLE, SAID ROD CARRYING AN OUTERSUBSTANTIALLY TUBULAR SHELL MEMBER HAVING A PORTION WHICH EXTENDSLONGITUDINALLY OVER A PORTION OF SAID ROD, SAID OUTER SHELL EXTENDING INSUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID ROD AND INCLUDING AT LEAST TWOSPACED APART FINGERS WHOSE OUTER ENDS ARE FREE AND FORM AN OPEN END OFSAID SHELL MEMBER, SAID FINGERS EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THE THEIR OUTERENDS TO FORM TWO SLOTS THEREBETWEEN AND TO CONNECTION WITH THAT PORTIONOF SAID OUTER SHELL MEMBER WHICH INCLUDES THE OTHER END THEREOF, A FIRSTSTOP MEMBER POSITIONED INWARDLY FROM THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID FINGERS ANDEXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ROD AND AN INNER WALL OF SAID OUTER SHELL MEMBER,AN INNER SUBSTANTIALLY TUBULAR MEMBER WITH A PORTION TELESCOPED INSIDE APART OF SAID OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER AND AROUND SAID ROD, SAID INNERTUBULAR MEMBER EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY LONGITUDINALLY OF AND INENGAGEMENT WITH A PAIR OF SAID ROD, BEING ROTATABLE THEREWITH, ANDHAVING MEANS THEREON FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST STOP MEMBER, ASECOND STOP MEMBER SPACED APART FROM SAID FIRST STOP MEMBER AND DISPOSEDCLOSER TO SAID OPEN END OF SAID OUTER SHELL MEMBER THAN SAID FIRST STOPMEMBER, SAID PORTION OF SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER INCLUDING SAID MEANSEXTENDING INTO SAID OPEN END OF SAID OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER AND BEINGSLIDABLY DISPOSED UPON SAID ROD FROM A FIRST POSITION WHEREAT SAID FIRSTSTOP MEMBER ENGAGES SAID MEANS OF SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER TO FORM AROLLER OF A FIRST LENGTH, TO A SECOND POSITION WHEREAT A PORTION OF SAIDINNER MEMBER HAS BEEN MOVED LONGITUDINALLY OUT THROUGH SAID OPEN END OFSAID OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER TO BRING A PART OF SAID INNER MEMBER INTOENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECOND STOP MEMBER TO FORM A ROLLER OF A SECONDLENGTH GREATER THAN SAID FIRST LENGTH.